Klarinet Archive - Posting 000480.txt from 2004/11

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Trust
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 01:08:55 -0500

Tony makes a fine point and it is frustrating to see so many people spread
distrust throughout the world, but there is one important aspect of trust
which must be mentioned.

Sadly, there are people in this world who will abuse trust. For these
people we have laws. The degree to which these laws must be spelled out
will be an eternal debate, but we can agree that some such laws must exist.
The degree to which we should trust someone we meet on the street is also
debatable. There just isn't one right answer for all circumstances.

It is a simple fact, however, that laws (whatever they may be) without
punishment are toothless. Debate away how many laws must exist, whether on
the streets of London or in the classroom at GenericAmerican High School,
but whatever conclusion reached must be appropriately (and hopefully
consistently) enforced.

Hence my original suggestion about talking first with the band director and
then, if necessary, with the principal. The kids need to know the rules and
they need to know the consequences of the rules. There are absolutely some
things the students should be afraid to do (physical harm to another
student, felonious theft, etc.) for fear of clearly spelled out
repercussions. Then there are the grey areas which every teacher deals with
in his or her own way. Whatever that way is, it should be clear to all
involved.

In a perfect world, we would all trust each other. A good teacher can come
pretty close to this perfect world in the classroom, but any teacher who
has worked long enough knows that there are some students who, sadly, need
to be kept in line with rules. As a teacher you hope you never have to use
them, but when you need them it is good for all involved that they exist.

Rules and laws almost always allow for the punishment to fit the crime, I
might add. But, like it or not, society requires rules to protect both the
trustworthy and the untrustworthy.

-Adam

PS: Will this protect the instruments? Possibly, possibly not. But it could
go a lot further than a locked case or suggesting her daughter carry her
instrument around.

After all, if I left my car unlocked and it was stolen, I would still
consider it a felony. I can't imagine anyone would suggest it was my fault
for parking my car where other people had access to it (they may call me
stupid for not locking my car, but that is a different matter). If it was
just a joyride, I might decide not to press charges, but it would be my
decision.

At 09:51 PM 11/12/2004 +0100, Tony Pay wrote:
>On 12 Nov, Oliver Seely <oseely@-----.edu> wrote:
>
>[snip of wise things]
>
> > Kids constantly do insensitive things like you describe. One simply has to
> > put one's son or daughter on guard at all times.
>
>I really think that that's the nub of it.
>
>How can we possibly appreciate a world in which wonderful things may happen,
>if we're 'on our guard at all times'?
>
>By the way, don't think I don't understand the motive behind what you say.

[...]

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